Artists' brush holder

Abstract

A device for holding artists' brushes and the like having two pairs of opposed rows of reeds with their tips in close proximity, the reeds deflecting to support the handle of the brush at spaced apart points. The device permits the brushes to be stored horizontally to prevent draining of wet paint onto the handles, or in other attitudes that may be preferred by the user.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by United States Letters Patent is: 
     
       1. A holder for artist paint brushes comprising: a three dimensional support frame having a front, rear, right side, left side, bottom and top, the front and rear being spaced substantially apart;   a row of equal length, parallel, flexible reeds cantilevered from the top of the frame at its front;   a row of equal length, parallel, flexible reeds cantilevered from the bottom of the frame at its front, the free ends of the reeds of the two front rows being juxtaposed;   a row of equal length, parallel, flexible reeds cantilevered from the top of the frame at its rear;   a row of equal length, parallel, flexible reeds cantilevered from the bottom of the frame at its rear, the free ends of the reeds of the two rear rows being juxtaposed, the four rows being mutually parallel; and   means supporting the frame upon a desk or the like; wherein   the reeds are thin and flat laterally to the frame; and   the free end of each reed is substantially curved rearwardly of the frame.   
     
     
       2. The brush holder of claim 1, wherein: each reed of each row is directly aligned with a corresponding reed in each of the other rows.   
     
     
       3. The brush holder of claim 1, wherein: each reed of each row is directly aligned with a corresponding reed in each of the other rows.   
     
     
       4. The brush holder of claim 1, wherein: the frame anchoring means permits support of the frame with the rows of reeds selectively positioned from vertical to horizontal, and with the frame tilted from front to rear from substantially upward to substantially downward.   
     
     
       5. The brush holder of claim 4, wherein the frame anchoring means comprises: a base adapted to be secured to the desk or the like;   an elongate post having an uppermost end and a lowermost end;   an upper and a lower structure securing the respective post ends to the frame and the base, with the lowermost end of the post in selectively rotated position with respect to the base about a lower horizontal axis and the frame in selectively rotated position with respect to the uppermost end of the post about an upper horizontal axis parallel to said lower axis.   
     
     
       6. The brush holder of claim 5, wherein the post end securing structures each comprise: a knob integral with an end of the post, having a circular, vertical serrated rim;   a cup having a matching serrated rim;   bolt and nut means securing the serrated rims releasably together in selective relative rotated positions; and   means for releasably securing the cup selectively to the base and the frame.   
     
     
       7. The brush holder of claim 6, further comprising: spring means urging the knob and the cup into separated positions. 
     
     
       8. The brush holder of claim 6, wherein the means securing the cup to the base and the frame comprises: a bayonet tab carried by each cup; and   at least one bayonet slot carried by each of the base and by the frame.   
     
     
       9. The brush holder of claim 8, wherein: the base is secured to the desk or the like by detachable suction cups.   
     
     
       10. The brush holder of claim 8, wherein: the base is secured to the desk or the like at its edge by a detachable clamp.   
     
     
       11. The brush holder of claim 8, wherein the base is adapted for use with a stretch frame with attached canvas, the base comprising: a body with an inwardly facing surface bearing upon the outside edge of the frame and the canvas thereon;   a block slideably associated with the body, having an outwardly facing surface bearing upon the inside edge of the frame and dimensioned to avoid contact with the stretched canvas; and   threaded rod and bore means for releasably clamping the body and the block about the edge of the stretch frame.   
     
     
       12. The brush holder of claim 11, wherein: the block carries a thin lip extending outwardly of the frame between the inside edge of the frame and the stretched canvas.   
     
     
       13. The brush holder of claim 1, wherein: the reeds are in cross section proportioned to have comparable dimensions laterally and longitudinally to the frame, so as to be comparable flexible in said directions.   
     
     
       14. The brush holder of claim 13, wherein: the reeds are in cross section proportioned to be elongate longitudinally to the frame, so as to be more flexible laterally than longitudinally thereto.   
     
     
       15. A holder for artist paint brushes and the like, comprising: a three dimensional support frame having a front, a rear two sides, a top and a bottom, the latter having an inner, upwardly facing surface generally free of abrupt discontinuities, the front and rear being spaced substantially apart;   a row of equal length, parallel, flexible reeds cantilevered from the top of the frame at its front;   a row of equal length, parallel, flexible reeds cantilevered from the top of the frame at its rear; wherein   the free ends of the reeds and the upwardly facing surface of the frame bottom are juxtaposed.   
     
     
       16. The brush holder of claim 15, wherein: the reeds are angled inwardly and rearwardly of the frame.   
     
     
       17. A holder for artist paint brushes comprising: a three dimensional support frame having a front, rear, right side, left side, bottom and top, the front and rear being spaced substantially apart;   a row of equal length, parallel, flexible reeds cantilevered from the top of the frame at its front;   a row of equal length, parallel, flexible reeds cantilevered from the bottom of the frame at its front, the free ends of the reeds of the two front rows being juxtaposed;   a row of equal length, parallel, flexible reeds cantilevered from the top of the frame at its rear;   a row of equal length, parallel, flexible reeds cantilevered from the bottom of the frame at its rear, the free ends of the reeds of the two rear rows being juxtaposed, the four rows being mutually parallel; and   means supporting the frame upon a desk or the like; wherein   the front and rear reeds are angled inwardly and rearwardly with respect to the frame; and   the free ends of each reed is substantially curved rearwardly of the frame.   
     
     
       18. The brush holder of claim 17, wherein: the frame anchoring means permits support of the frame with the rows of reeds selectively positioned from vertical to horizontal, and with the frame tilted from front to rear from substantially upward to substantially downward.